Well, it’s been a little while since I have blogged anything.  I hate that this has happened as life has been rather busy these last few months.  School has been kicking my butt this semester and taken away from my time to write…..but I have set aside today to complete at least one blog that’s been churning in my heart for a few weeks now.  Hoping it stirs in your heart as well….

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A few weeks ago I had the privilege of being a part of the Lifeway Women’s Forum in Nashville, TN.  What a huge blessing to sit under the teaching of so many incredible leaders in Women’s Ministry today.  While in one of the sessions, one of the women actually sang an old hymn to end her session. The hymn she sang was “I’d Rather Have Jesus.”  I sat there and simply listened to the words and it overwhelmed me.  Over the next few days I was there, I just couldn’t get that song out of my mind.  I began to ask myself – would I rather have Him than anything.  Anything at all?  Does my life reflect that I’d rather have Jesus than anything?  Do I realize the greatness of all that He is?

I had to really start evaluating my priorities.  As my life has become overwhelmingly busy again – I had to evaluate where I was invested the most.  Do I give Him as much time as I do everything else?  Do I run to Jesus in times of heartache, confusion or anger?  Or do I seek the wisdom of man?  Do I praise Him in the goodness that happens and honor Him in everything I do – even in the mundane of everyday life?  Would I truly rather have Jesus than silver and gold?  Would I truly rather have Jesus than houses or lands?  Would I rather be led by His nail pierced hands or led by the approval and accolades of others?

I want to say and boldly believe the answer is YES!  But is it really?  Is it yes every minute of every hour, every second of every minute?

Friends-in order to truly say “I’d rather have Jesus,” we have to truly understand why we’d rather have Him.  We need to understand that He is better than anything.  Anything we feel, anything we want, anything we think is great.   We would rather have Him when we “consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..…consider everything rubbish, that you may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 paraphrased)

When we would rather have Him, our lives reflect that.

We have to let Him lead our lives no matter what that means.

When He asks us to do something we really don’t want to do – we do it because:

I’d Rather Have Jesus.

When He asks us to let go of something we really want to cling to – we do it because:

I’d Rather Have Jesus.

When we are in the depths of heartache and confusion – we praise Him still because:

I’d Rather Have Jesus.

When we are so busy we can’t find the time to spend in His Word, we find time because:

I’d Rather Have Jesus.

Sometimes it’s hard.  Sometimes it’s uncomfortable. I get it.  But when we choose Him – He provides what we need to get through that moment.   Nothing is better – even if in the moment something may feel better.  It’s not.  I promise.  And yes – He requires much of us.  We have to put in effort – we have to work hard but I’d say He’s worth it.  He put himself up on the cross for me – for all my awful junk – I want to be willing to do anything for Him….but am I?  I want to always say “I’d Rather Have Jesus….but would I?

Oh the greatness of contentment, joy and peace we receive when we choose Him.  When we decide we’d rather have Him than anything. When we decide we’d rather be “true to His Holy Name.”

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“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ” Philippians 3:8

 

I’d Rather Have Jesus by Rhea Miller  MUSIC WRITTEN BY: George Beverly Shea

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,

I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain

Or be held in sin’s dread sway,


I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause

 I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,

I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;

He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;

He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,

I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.